These no-bake chow mein noodle haystacks have been around so long that my friends and I, all grandmothers, remember our grandmas making them!! That alone should testify to how darn good they are, and they will always be welcome on a holiday cookie tray!
Anything that's been around for over 50 years has definitely stood the test of time!! This time around, though, I think they are made perfect with a pinch of flaky sea salt!
Crunchy chow mein noodles have been a part of American cuisine since the 1940s! Interestingly, the first canned Chinese food was brought to America by an Italian American shortly after World War 2. Over the years, the products have improved greatly and are still popular today!
The crisp, crunchy chow mein noodles made from wheat have become toppings for salads, stir-fries, casseroles, and no-bake cookies. These tasty little noodles have that slight bit of saltiness and that intriguing umami flavor that makes chow mein noodle haystacks so craveable.
Umami? For years, we were taught there are four basic taste groups: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Umami, or the "fifth taste," is a relatively recent discovery. Officially named as a distinct taste in the 1980s, umami is true savoriness. Chow mein noodles have that special flavor component that makes them marry so well with sweet ingredients.
Last year, around Christmas time, shoppers scurried to snap up dwindling supplies of the coveted noodles. It seems as if wheat shortages due to a bad crop year were to blame for the unexpected barren shelves that continued into spring. Everyone loves using them in no-bake cookies!
Have you ever thought about the magic marriage of sweet and salty? Have you ever wondered why certain things taste so good together? For example, why does a little salt make caramel taste so incredible? Why is bacon so delicious with maple syrup-drenched pancakes? Why is kettle corn so addictive?
I never stopped to think why I love dipping crisp, salty french fries into my chocolate shake, but there it is again, that heavenly duo of salty and sweet!
Culinary experts know how critical it is to strike the perfect balance between sweet and salty. In the world of chef speak, it's called flavor layering. These yummy peanut butter haystacks have amazing flavor layering!
We all love a treat that's easy to make, and in the summer, we love it when we can avoid turning on the oven or stove and keep our kitchen cool. These chow mein noodle haystacks are easily made in the microwave in record time. Before you begin, cover your work surface with non-stick parchment paper (Reynolds is my favorite,) waxed paper, or a silicone mat.
You only need a few ingredients to make these memorable morsels!
Melt three cups of miniature marshmallows with a package of butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook them in 30-second increments on high power, stirring well between bursts. Depending on your microwave, it should take about three minutes.
Stir in one and one-half cups of creamy peanut butter until everything is well blended. Finally, fold in a five-ounce can of chow mein noodles and a cup of coarsely chopped salted peanuts. It's a stiff mixture; you need a sturdy spoon to work fast while still warm.
Use two greased or sprayed spoons or a cookie scoop to plop them onto the work surface you covered. Working quickly, before the cookies set, sprinkle just a pinch - a few grains- of Maldon Flaky Sea Salt onto each cookie. Want even more umami flavor? Try some smoked flaky sea salt! Wow!!
The marshmallows in this recipe make the haystacks a little chewier, and the chopped peanuts add another layer of crunch. But I'm telling you, that tiny bit of salt on each cookie sends your tastebuds soaring!
Keep the peanut butter haystacks on the counter in a tightly covered container and watch them disappear! You can keep them in the fridge, but I think they are chewier and better at room temperature.
You can also freeze these little rascals to keep them out of sight if you need help with the temptation. There is no twelve-step program for haystack addiction, and it's real!
Aren't no-bake cookies the best, especially in the summer? Well, who are we kidding? They are wonderful any time of year. Here are some more you might like.
A classic no-bake cookie using marshmallows, peanut butter, butterscotch chips, and chow mein noodles, but with a twist!
The holidays are the time of year when we all go a little crazy making treats! I love having some easy recipes for treats and a couple of easy dinner recipes for those busy evenings when we might otherwise need to be in the kitchen longer than usual.
Here are a couple of my most popular quick dinner recipes: One-Pan American Goulash and Easy Ham and Scalloped Potatoes. And a couple of quick and easy goodies to make life a little easier this time of year: Festive Cornflakes Cookies and Sugar Cookie Bars.
In all the hustle and bustle, please remember the one true reason we celebrate this holiday: find time to slow down and enjoy some meaningful time with your loved ones. Christmas is a gift and was never meant to be a burden!
If you liked this recipe, you are my people! If you like this recipe, please share it on your social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter! It would sure tickle me, and I would be ever so grateful!
If you haven't already, please look for me on Facebook and Pinterest, where I will share easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes every week!
Love, GB (Betty Streff)
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